What is a Pearl?

What is a Pearl?

A pearl is created when an irritant triggers a mollusk’s defense mechanism. The mollusk creates a pearl sac to seal off the irritation and deposits layers of calcium carbonate over the irritant. This calcium carbonate, a combination of aragonite and conchiolin is called nacre, which makes up mother of pearl as well. In cultured pearls, the irritant is typically a piece of mantle tissue from another mollusk.

Read more about Pearl Farming and its Positive Affects on the Environment here.

35% off Pearls

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Boxwood and the Environment

Boxwood and the Environment

For thousands of years Netsukes have charmed their viewers. A huge detraction to this exquisite form of legend/myth telling was that fact that they were carved out of Elephant Tusk. As the planet has become more aware of what happens to the magnificent elephants, it has made this extraordinary art form repugnant as well as illegal to own for many. The switch to boxwood has made these enchanting objects a green product as boxwood is an easily farmed wood. Boxwood is carved green when it is soft and as it dries it hardens. It is used in it's dwarf form for topiaries in the west and the larger variety for ornamental and even furniture carving in China and other eastern countries. It is an ecology friendly solution to preserving an ancient art when boxwood is used to carve Netsukes and other object d'art.

35% off Boxwood Beads!

• Enter promo code 35Boxwood to receive discount
  
  
• Website purchases only, eBay items excluded
  
  
• Limited to stock on hand
  
  
• Sale begins March 19 and ends March 23 at 11:59PM (Eastern Standard Time)

How to create Coral Earrings

How to create Coral Earrings

I made these earrings using briolette branch coral beads (4985), 14Kgf wire and earwires. While they may look simple, the wire-wrap above the briolette branch bead is a little tricky. I am used to wire-wrapping traditional briolette beads that have a point above the drill hole, so these beads which are flat on the top took a little more time.

Up to 50% off FernFrond & BreakingDawn Hued Beads!

* No promo code needed

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* Sale begins March 15 and ends March 18 at 11:59PM Eastern (GMT-4:00)

Up to 50% off FernFrond Hued Beads

This color category includes Ruby Zoisite, Chrome Diopside, Emeralds, Malachite & More!

All images are linked to those items.

Up to 50% BreakingDawn Hued Beads

This color category includes Imperial Topaz, Coral, Sunstone, Peach Chalcedony & more!

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March Birthstones - Aquamarine, Bloodstone & Jade

March Birthstones - Aquamarine, Bloodstone, & Jade

The Traditional & Ayurvedic birthstone for March is Bloodstone. The mineral heliotrope, also known as bloodstone, is a form of chalcedony. The "classic" bloodstone is green chalcedony with red inclusions of iron oxide or red jasper. The red spots were once thought during the Middle Ages to be drops of Christ's blood, and that the stone held special powers.

Aquamarine (from Lat. aqua marina, "water of the sea") is the modern birthstone for March. It is a blue or turquoise variety of beryl. It occurs at most localities which yield ordinary beryl, some of the finest coming from Russia. It is 7.5–8 on MoHs Hardness scale.

The Mystical birthstone for March is Jade. The term jade is applied to two different metamorphic rocks that are made up of different silicate minerals: Nephrite and Jadeite. Both were used from prehistoric periods for hardstone carving. Jadeite has about the same hardness as quartz, while nephrite is somewhat softer.

See more Aquamarine, Bloodstone & Jade here.

Progessive Sale!

Progressive Sale!

Up to 35% off your entire order

Get a jump start on your designing for Spring with a Progressive Sale at www.SilverRoseBeads.com. All items qualify for this sale! Earn 5% for a $20 order. Earn 15% off for a $50 order. Earn 35% off for a $100 order!

* Enter the following promo codes for the discount (*only enter the promo code that applies to your order*).

* For a $20 order enter 5at20

* For a $50 order enter 15at50

* For a $100 order enter 35at100

* Limited to stock on hand

* Sale begins March 1 and ends March 4 at 11:59PM Eastern (GMT -4:00)